84. Digital
Webbing Presents #12 (Digital Webbing, 2003) ***Writers/artists:
variousFair-to-average
anthology highlighted by some early Ryan Bodenheim art, plus a short strip
featuring Super Hero Happy Hour (writer: Dan Taylor/artist: Chris Fason)85. Digital
Webbing Presents #22 (Digital Webbing, 2005) ***Writers/artists:
variousAnother
Super Hero Happy Hour strip, this time in colour, was the only reason why I
bought this ish.86. Dr Blink
Superhero Shrink #0 (Dork Storm Press, 2004) **½Writer: John
Kovalic/Artist: Christopher JonesA
psychologist deals with superheroes. Has its moments. Also features a short
Super Hero Happy Hour strip. 87.-91.
Super Hero Happy Hour #1-5 (GeekPunk, 2002-04) ***Writer: Dan
Taylor/Artist: Chris FasonEntertaining
strip about heroes and villains who meet regularly at a pub to drink away their
problems. The strip falters when Fason tries to draw action, but when it sticks
to head shots discussing pub lore and spouting one-liners, the chunky art’s
fine.92. Hero
Happy Hour Super Special (GeekPunk, 2004) ***¼Writers/artists:
variousIn the hands
of other creators, this title really blossoms. A fun anthology.93. Super
Deluxe Hero Happy Hour (IDW, 2006) **Writer: Dan Taylor/Artist: Chris Fason &
Jim ClarkeHero Happy
Hour falls over when the action leaves the bar and the special degenerates into
a pedestrian heroes-fight-alien-invasion yarn. When a hero is killed in the
line of duty, the story becomes downright maudlin and the quirky charm of the
original series is lost. Then, to completely undercut the drama, it’s
subsequently revealed that the entire story is “not real”. There are “DVD
extras” where the “actors” talk about making a “movie”. It’s weird, jarring and
just doesn’t work. A really flat ending to what had been, up to that point, a
mildly entertaining funny superhero strip.This series is still around on the interwebz. Check it out atHero Happy Hour.94. Lady
Rawhide Ashcan (Topps, 1995) *Writer: Don
McGregor/Artist: Esteban MarotoA weird
hybrid of a typical Image-style slut-hero title with a traditional
swashbuckling adventure strip, direct from the Topps’ Zorro comic. McGregor’s
text is torturous (as always) while Maroto’s artwork is muted and kinda
pedestrian. With that kinda mash-up, you can imagine how unimpressive this
comic was.95.-99. Six
Guns #1-5 (Marvel, 2012) ***½Writer: Andy
Diggle/Artist: Davide GianeliceA nice
modern reworking of some old Marvel western heroes. 100. The
Victories #3 (Dark Horse, 2012) ***¼ Writer/Artist:
Michael Avon Oeming101.-102.
Batman Incorporated #3-4 (DC, 2012) ***½Writer:
Grant Morrison/Artist: Chris Burnham 103. ScriptGraphics Small Press #? (BPP, 200?) *Writer/artist: Darrell Goza Darrell’s take on the Doom Patrol (the 70s version). Art is primitive. I’ve seen him do much better.